Partner’s Club

Front, left to right:  Nathan Laughlin, Brandon Klein, Sabrina Vonderhaar, Brittany Schmitt, Sam Donovan, Michelle Neumann, Stacy Kass, Amber Gansen  Middle, left to right:  Zach Sargent, Lee Greenwood, Crystal Brown, Meranda Gaul, Caleb Ernzen, Jeff Leibold, Brennen Koopmann

Top, left to right:  Allie Girard, Janelle Morrison, Mark Zalaznik, Shelby McDermott, Jessica Schmitt, Katie Turnmeyer, Miranda Thomas, Andrew Burns

Missing from the photo:  Marilu Gomez, Lizzy Goedken, Nicole Meyer, Brandon Weber, Abby Japser, Rebecca Hoefler, Samantha Link, Jaclyn Sahm, Amanda Fritz, Danielle Schmitt, Emily Schlarmann, Chelsie Pfeiler, Emily Goedken, Shelby Heiderscheit, Jeremy Feldmann, Kaylee Petersen, Marla Schreiber

 

BY LAURIE FALLON, STRATEGIST II SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

There is a new club at Western Dubuque High School: Partner’s Club. This year, there are currently 36 members of this club at WDHS.  What is it?   It is a unique school-based program that teams students with and without intellectual disabilities together.  Partner’s Club members spend time together enjoying social, academic, and recreation activities in the school and community.  It provides opportunities to build student character, increase acceptance of “different abilities,” and develop leadership skills. Partner’s Club works very closely with volunteering to help with the Special Olympics team at Western Dubuque High School.  One of the platforms of the Partner’s Club is the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign, which raises awareness of the derogatory use of the “R-Word” (retard or retarded) and its negative effects on people with intellectual disabilities, as well as their families and friends. It is also about changing attitudes of segregation and hate into attitudes of acceptance and respect.  Look for some great things to happen with the Partner’s Club this school year!